Last updated at 14:24, Monday, 07 May 2012

AMBLESIDE AC’s Paul Singleton held on in a pulsating finish to claim victory in the 24th annual Dalton Charter 10k road race on Friday night.

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The 37-year-old led for much of the race, only to be headed in the final stages before fighting back to cross the line in front of Rogan Ashton and Paul Foster in a strong time of 36 minutes and seven seconds.

Singleton went into the race bullish about his prospects, but said despite setting the tempo he could not break his rivals until the very end.

“I thought I had a chance,” he said. “I put the work in early but struggled in the last miles and just managed to hold on.

“After leading for so long it would have been a shame to get beaten at the end.”

Melanie Hyder, 18, of Helm Hill Runners club, was the first woman home and said she always felt comfortable out on the course.

She finished in a time of 37.28 ahead of Jayne Perry of Lancs/Morecambe (42.17) and Glaxo Hoad Hill Harrier Stephanie Gillies (43.01).

“I wasn’t really expecting to win,” she said. “I was expecting quite a lot of competition tonight because it’s a good race for PBs.

“I did find the course quite challenging. It perhaps wasn’t as undulating as I thought it would be, but it’s quite scenic and quite nice.”

It was a good night for the Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers. Club captain Andy Jackson led the way, finishing 19th (40.44) while Hoad’s evergreen Denis Metcalf took first vets 60 position coming 22nd (41.10) just pipping Barrow Striders ace Peter Hall (vets 70, 41.18).

Barrow Amateur Boxing Club took the men’s team prize, with Liam Conroy (37.19), coach Jeff Moses (38.26), and Reece Frankland (40.01), all putting in solid performances.

The Hoad Hill women retained their team prize thanks to great runs from Gillies, Karen McKinnon (1st v40 45.28) and Rachel Ashton (54.58), with Ashton saying: “I’m over the moon, as I’ve never won a prize before.”

A one-mile fun run for younger athletes was held in conjunction with the main race, attracting 18 competitors.

Levi McMeekin, 14, of the Barrow Amateur Boxing Club, took the race, while Georgia Cooper, 12, was the first girl home.

The race was organised by Barrow and Furness Striders AC, with the support of sponsors Kaymas Electrical Engineering and the Dalton with Newton Town Council.

Dalton mayor John Millar said he was pleased to so many runners turn out to support an event that grows in prestige every year.

“The race is very important as far as the town is concerned,” he said. “Dalton Town Council has sponsored this for a number of years and it will continue to do so.

“It’s also great to get the young ones involved. The push now throughout the country is to get young ones to take part and I think it’s a great move by the club to do this.”

First published at 13:16, Monday, 07 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk